Diaphragm-clamp for pressure-regulators.



PATENTED'MAR. 12, 1907.

. T. B. WYLIE.

DIAPHRAGM CLAMP FOR PRESSURE REGULATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.7, 1906.

WITNESSES MMW.

THOMAS B. WYLIE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

DIAPHRAGM-CLAMP FOR PRESSURE-REGULATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed March 7,1906. Serial No. 304.634.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS B. WYLIE, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Diaphragm Clamp for Pressure-Regulators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section showing one form of regulator provided with my improved cover and diaphragm-clamp, and. Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view showing a modified form.

My invention relates to the securing of the edge portions of flexible diaphragms within chambers, such as fluid-pressure regulators.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and effective means for clamping the diaphragm and providing a cover for the receptacle.

In the drawings, referring to the form of Fig. 1, 2 represents the cylindrical casing of a pressure-regulator having the bottom head3. of sheet metal, secured to the sheet-metal casing in any desirable manner. drical casing is provided at any desirable point in its height with an outwardly-pressed. groove or recess 4, extending around the wall in annular form. The flexible diaphragm 5, of leather or other flexible material. is clamped within the groove of the wall by an outwardly-swelled bead or rib 6 in a sheet-metal ring 7, which I have shown in this form as being the rim of the sheet-metal cover 8. This cover with its annular flange 7 may be drawn from a sheet, or the flange may be formed of a separate piece with its ends secured together and the top soldered or otherwise secured to it.

In assembling the parts the outer annular portion of the leather diaphragm is spread over the turned-back edge portion 9 of the coverflange, and shellac or other cement is preferably spread over the faces of the ring and casing-groove. The parts are then put in. a press, which forces the cover and diaphragm into the casing. To assist in entering the ring, the edge portion of the ring is preferably flared outwardly to a slight extent. The

The cylinfastened in the same manner as before by hesheet metal of the casing and the flange of the cover are sufficiently flexible to yield and allow the enlarged bead portion of the coverflange to be forced into the vessel or chamber until its rib or bead enters the annular groove in the wall of the casing, thus clamping the leather edges of the diaphragm tightly in place in the annular pocket. The leather may extend upwardly any desired distance between the cover-flange and the casing-wall, and I have shown it as extending nearly to the top of the vessel. In order to seal the joint between the cover and the casing, I preferably bead out the cover-flange near the top, as shown at 10, to force it outwardly over the edge of the leather and near to the upper edge of the casing-wall. This beaded portion may then be soldered to the wall to make the joint air-tight.

Instead of making the sheet-metal clamping-ring integral with the cover I may form them separately, as shown in Fig. 2. In this case the clamping-ring 7 is separate from the cover 8, which cover is provided with a flange 11, which fits neatly within the cylindrical wall of the casing. The leather is ing forced into the groove 4 and clamped by the rib 6 on the ring 7 In this case no bead is needed on the flange 11 of the cover,

and the soldered joint may be made as before. In the form shown 12 is the inlet for the fluid, 13 the valve, which is controlled by the diaphragm, and 14: the outlet. It will be understood, however, that my invention lies in the cover and clamp for the diaphragm, which may be used with any chamber or regulator.

The advantages of my invention result i from the cheap and simple means for clamping the edges of the diaphragm, especially in combination with the cover having a sealed joint with the receptacle.

Variations may be made in the form and arrangement of the beads or grooves, the material of the diaphragm, &c., without departing from my invention.

I claim 1. A sheet-metal casing having an annular bead in its wall, in combination with a continuous sheet-metal clamping-ring, having a corresponding annular rib, and a flexible dia groove, and a cover above the securin '-ring 10 phragrn held between the rib and annular and sealed to the casing; substantia ly as groove; substantially as described. described.

2. A cylindricalsheet-metal casin havingt In testimony whereof I have hereunto set an outwardly-forced groove in its Wall, afleximy hand. ble diaphragm having its edge portions lying THOMAS B. WYLIE. in the groove, a continuous sheet-metal ring Witnesses: having an outwardly-bulged rib portion ar- I JOHN MILLER, ranged to lclainp thediaphragm Within the H. M. CORWIN.. 

